Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, issued its monthly documentation report (January 2024) about the crimes of demolishing, confiscation, and notifications with demolishing orders against Palestinian establishments. The Israeli occupation (Occupying Power) targets the various types of Palestinian establishments including religious, tourism, industrial, commercial, educational, official, or agricultural ones, and the focus is on houses and residential establishments. SHAMS Center, issues periodic reports (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually) documentation reports about these violations and others.
The report is based on field documentation methodology through the Center’s team and researchers who documented the Israeli violations against the Palestinian establishments in the various governorates of the West Bank, for the period 1-31/1/2024. The collected data is analyzed and processed to be presented in easily readable tables against comprehensive qualitative and quantitative indicators. During the current month, the Israeli authorities targeted 281 Palestinian establishments with demolishing and notifications with demolishing orders (to be targeted shortly).
The major form of the violations was demolishing where 63 establishments were demolished, including 4 establishments within the policy of self- demolishing where the owners are forced to demolish the establishments on their own to avoid paying exaggerated financial fines. The Israeli authorities obligate Jerusalemite Palestinians to afford the costs of demolishing their establishments in case the Israeli authorities demolish them. Usually, there is exaggeration in estimating these costs and the owner might be arrested till the fine is paid. Therefore, Jerusalemite Palestinians prefer to demolish the establishments on their own as the costs are less. The demolished establishments were under the claim of an unlicensed building.
As for the notifications, the Israeli authorities notified the owners of 218 establishments with military orders to demolish or stop construction. The notified establishments include houses, residential barracks, and agricultural pools, where they were notified with these orders under the claim of being unlicensed buildings.
The first indicator reflects the types of targeted establishments where these demolished establishments are: houses (21), residential tents (1), agricultural rooms (14), wells/ water pools (1), retaining walls (2), commercial establishments (12), livestock barracks/ sheds (6), agricultural greenhouses (3), stones terraces (1), horses stable (1), and equestrian club (1).
Concerning the notified establishments, they were houses (206, residential barracks (11), and agricultural pools (1).
The second indicator reflects the geographical distribution of the targeted establishments where the majority was in Nablus (18 establishments) and Jerusalem, where there were 15 establishments.
Regarding the notifications with orders to demolish or stop construction or evacuation and other forms of violations that deprive Palestinians of the right to utilize their properties, the Israeli authorities notified the owners of 218 establishments in Jerusalem and Hebron. Revising the distributed notifications will draw the future curve of targeted establishments’ in the future.
Regarding the claims proposed by the Israeli authorities to legalize the violations against Palestinians’ rights, 58 establishments (out of 63 establishments demolished during January) were under the claim of unlicensed buildings in areas classified as (C). 5 establishments were demolished within the policy of collective punishment against Palestinians involved in resisting the occupation. Israel applies such a policy to deter Palestinians from being involved in resisting the occupation.
As for the notified establishments, the Israeli authorities notified the owners of the 218 establishments, under the claim of being built without license.
Concerning the self-demolishing, during January, 4 establishments were demolished within this policy where the owners were obligated to demolish their establishments on their own. The self-demolishing represents structured oppression as Jerusalemites are obligated to demolish their establishments on their own to avoid paying exaggerated financial fines. If the Israeli authorities demolish the establishment, then the owner has to pay the cost of the process as estimated by the Israeli authorities, where there is usually exaggeration in estimating these costs. The owner could be detained till the fine is paid and so, Jerusalemite Palestinians tend to demolish the establishments on their own as the cost is less. The Israeli authorities, including the police, municipality, and judiciary system, are involved in this racist crime against Palestinians. The four establishments were demolished under the claim of an unlicensed building.
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Human Rights and Democracy Media Centers SHAMS
مركز إعلام حقوق الإنسان والديمقراطية "شمس"